Capacity building in South Africa

This month, we are proud to announce that we have taken significant steps to re-invigorate our relationship with grassroots and strategic organisations in South Africa. This rekindling of our partnership, which began in 2012 when @RioFerdinand visited Cape Town with Manchester United FC following our first leadership course there, has continued a networking basis even through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We are excited to embark on our first grassroots work in the country in over five years, and we are pleased to see this ‘new’ initiative achieving so many great things in such a short period.

Social Mobility has long underpinned the work of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation – giving young people the confidence, skills, and platforms to build new networks that may sit outside of their comfort zones, to gain new transferable and vocational skills and accreditations.

As a Foundation we engage with a range of industries, businesses, academic institutions, and strategic bodies to understand better the range of careers and roles that exist and to build work experience through placements, internships and apprenticeships that help put young people on the pathway to achieve their potential.

In this approach, we have worked with a range of partners across the UK and Ireland, including Warner Music, UEFA Foundation, Bauer Media, Ralph Lauren, Statom, Laureus Sport for Good and a range of local employers, sports clubs, and cultural agencies at the ground level.

Throughout the history of the Foundation, we have also recognised that our work and approach have a resonance and can be applied not only in the UK and Ireland but internationally through strategic partnerships and grassroots connections. 

As a result, we have worked with local networks to capacity-build local projects and people to deliver our approach, add value to existing programmes and help make an international movement that uses sports and cultural activities to bring meaningful positive change to underserved communities.

This month, we have delivered a co-developed programme in the Cape Flats area of South Africa with the fantastic learning institution eta, local footballing organisations South Africa Football Association Cape Town, Rygate FA, and Junction Rovers. I am especially pleased that Dr David Maraleck and his team at University of Cape Town have also joined the partnership to carry out an impact report and advise on scalability and best practices for the initiative.

In this pilot programme, 12 volunteers from within the community received training from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation team in leadership, communication, community sports leadership and social media skills ( shout out to Melissa Fordham, Donald Forde Edilson Abilo for the training and Rio for the motivational video – great work team!), allied to accredited training from eta in sports coaching and administration, before undertaking a work placement planning, delivering and evaluating a community sports programme in the Heidveld / Rygate areas of Cape Town.

All 12 participants have passed the course and undertaken roles within the local football community. Three candidates received bursaries to study at the National Diploma level in Sports Coaching / Administration with eta while receiving a stipend to mentor the next generation of young talent in the Cape Town sports community.

This focus on transferable skills, confidence and leadership, work experience, and progression uses sport as a pathway to economic activity, social mobility, and connectivity in a region where poverty, social issues, and lack of opportunity are rife. I am pleased that, in some small way, we have facilitated that journey.

As the team returns to the UK, I eagerly await their feedback on the content and highlights of the trip. I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all the partners involved. Your honesty, passion, and dedication have been instrumental in the success of this impactful programme. I also want to extend my gratitude to all the participants who wholeheartedly embraced the course and the work placement. 

Your energy and enthusiasm have been inspiring, and I wish you all the best in your future careers.